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Abstract

Attosecond extreme-ultraviolet (XUV) pulses generated in gases via high-order harmonic generation typically carry an intrinsic positive chirp. Compression of such pulses has been demonstrated using metallic transmission filters, a method with very limited tunability. We compare here the compression achievable with a diffraction grating based method with that of metallic filters using simulated high harmonic waveforms in the transmission window of metal films.

Figures (7)

(a) Spectrum and group delay of the high-order harmonic radiation produced at a generating intensity of 1.5 × 1014 W/cm2 in argon (black lines) and 6 × 1014 W/cm2 in neon (red lines). (b) Corresponding attosecond pulses possessing an intrinsic chirp (dashed lines) and their Fourier limit (solid lines). For better clarity, the pulses are shifted in time with respect to each other.

Attosecond pulse generated at (a) 1.5 × 1014 W/cm2 and (b) 6 × 1014 W/cm2. The FWHM duration values are indicated in the graph. TL: transform limited, HHG: right after high harmonic generation, Al: after a 600-nm Al film, Zr: after a 250-nm Zr film, XAC: after an XUV grating compressor with parameters given in the text. For better clarity, the pulses are shifted in time with respect to each other.

Residual GD of the attosecond pulses after the XAC generated at peak intensities of (a) 1.5 × 1014 W/cm2 and (b) 6 × 1014 W/cm2. The corresponding spectra after chirp compensation by the XACs are shown by the dashed lines on the right axes. The error bars indicate the FWHM spread in GDs due to the aberration of the system.